Tars Lose Heartbreaker in SSC Semifinals

WINTER PARK, Fla. (April 28, 2022) – The No. 10 Tars suffered a dramatic overtime defeat, falling to No. 14 Florida Southern, 12-11, in the Sunshine State Conference Tournament Semifinals.  The second-seeded Tars fall to 12-3 on the year.  The Mocs, the tournament's third seed, improve to 12-5 overall, and advance to the Championship game this Sunday at Tampa.
 
Justin White paced the Tars with four goals. Jack Johnstone netted a hat trick, while adding one assist, good for four total points.  Grant Hansen registered a game high six points, coming on one goal and a career high five assists.  Charlie Rask caused four turnovers and picked up five groundballs to lead the defense. Patrick Thomas and Trevor Dorfman both saw time in goal for Rollins, combining for six saves.
 
Sean Nolan led the Mocs attack, scoring a game high five goals, including the game winner.  Edward May added a hat trick.  Jeff Atlas tallied once and dished out two assists for the Mocs.  Kevin Horwitz won 15-27 faceoffs.  Maxwell Freestone made 10 stops between the pipes for Florida Southern.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
First Quarter

• Finn Jent got the scoring started with a left handed shot on the Tars' first possession.
• Grant Hansen tallied his first assist with a cross crease pass to Jack Johnstone to make the score 2-0.
• Florida Southern would find the back of the net at the 8:57 mark, but Johnstone fed Bailey Pringle just a minute later as the Tars regained the two score margin.

Second Quarter

• The Mocs started the second quarter on a run, pouring in four consecutive goals to take a 5-3 lead.
• The Tars responded with three goals of their own.  A pair of Justin White lasers bookended a Marshall Ellison snipe, with all three goals coming on Hansen assists.
• The Mocs would respond with three straight, including two goals in the final 15 seconds, to take an 8-6 lead into the break.

Third Quarter

• In a quarter dominated by defense the Tars held Florida Southern off the board, while not allowing a shot on goal from the Mocs.
• Hansen found Johnstone for the period's only tally, coming at the 8:17 mark, and making the score 8-7 in favor of Florida Southern.

Fourth Quarter

• Jack Johnstone picked up an opportunistic goal to open the fourth quarter, bringing the teams level at 8-8.
• Hansen tallied his lone goal to give Rollins a 9-8 advantage, putting his shot off the goalie's hip and just inside the pipe.
• White made it 10-8 with another long range effort.
• The Mocs would score twice to pull the game level at 10-10 with less than six minutes remaining.
• White's fourth, off an assist from Finn Jent, gave the Tars an 11-10 lead, but the Mocs would equalize off the ensuing faceoff.
• The two teams both had opportunities down the stretch, including a point blank save from Trevor Dorfman with just seconds on the clock to send the game to overtime.

Overtime

• The Mocs earned the first possession.  With time winding down on the shot clock the Mocs flung a desperation pass in front of the goal, it bounced off a Florida Southern stick and slowly dribbled over the line for the game winner.

UP NEXT:
Rollins awaits their NCAA Tournament fate. The NCAA Division II Men's Lacrosse Selection Show is scheduled for Sunday, May 8.
 
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